NPC conducted out a training programme on research for 31 students from the Eastern, Sabaragamuwa and Jaffna universities under its Creative Youth Engagement for Pluralism (C-YEP) project. Participants chose research as the tool to raise awareness and influence the public discourse on pluralism and inter community relations.
Dr. S. Jeevasuthan, a senior lecturer in sociology at the University of Jaffna and Mr. Shashik Silva, a survey researcher and quantitative analyst, facilitated the session via zoom. Participants learnt about the basics of research through practical exercises. Topics covered included qualitative and quantitative research, sample selection, questionnaire development, data collection, field data collection and survey data processing.
Participants discussed possible research topics under the theme of pluralism and inter community relations and methods of implementing their ideas. Many of the participants said that the programme had increased their confidence to conduct their own research.